Porn Problem @ Apple

            
                In December Apple booted out an app called 500px from its app store. Now, before you say “good riddance”, let me make it clear that the ‘x’ in the app’s name has nothing to do with x-rated. It is just part of px which is short for pixels.

               This 500px is an app for www.500px.com, a website that allows people to host and share photographs. Similar to what Flickr and Instagram do. But Apple claimed that 500px also had adult pictures, which its users could search for, and kicked out the app from its app store.

Here is Apple’s statement, as told to The Verge:

"The app was removed from the App Store for featuring pornographic images and material, a clear violation of our guidelines. We also received customer complaints about possible child pornography. We've asked the developer to put safeguards in place to prevent pornographic images and material in their app."

            This is not the first time an app has been removed from iOS app store over the content that Apple believes is obscene or pornographic. Steve Jobs, in 2010, categorically said that even though internet is full of pornographic material, such content has no place on Apple’s devices. He said…

"We do believe we have a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone. Folks who want porn can buy (an) Android phone."

            While Apple can remove or disapprove content on its app store, the right question we should ask is whether the company should be allowed to decide what iPhone and iPad users can see or not see. It may have puritanical standards that are not followed by its users. Consumers should not be at the mercy of Apple – or for that matter any other company – when it comes to content. If it is allowed in law it should be accessible

            It’s not only about porn. In the past, Apple even disapproved apps on political and religious grounds. For example, in its developer guidelines for the app store it says…

"We view apps different than books or songs, which we do not curate. If you want to criticize a religion, write a book. If you want to describe sex, write a book or a song, or create a medical app. It can get complicated, but we have decided to not allow certain kinds of content in the App Store."

            Personally, I believe that content creators and companies like Apple or Google should not decide what their users do with their devices. Yes, there are problems with obscene and pornographic material on the web but the device makers or platform owners should advise, AND NOT FORCE, users to accept or not accept something.

           In this matter I like Google’s approach. The company, too, curates Android app store but users also have the option to bypass the store and install apps directly. On iPhone or iPad you can’t install apps without using iOS app store unless you ‘jailbreak’ the device.

          It is high time Apple clarifies its policy on ‘objectionable’ material. This is a question Joshua Topolsky asks at The Verge. If 500px was removed because people could search for nude pictures through app, why has Apple allowed Safari web browser, Tumblr, Google Search or Twitter apps on its store? After all, it is much easier to get hardcore pornographic content with these apps compared to what a user can get through 500px.

Update: 500PX magically reappeared in the iOS app store. Let's hope it stays there.